Apatinib enhances antitumour activity of EGFR-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR-TKI resistance.

•Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) rechallenge showed moderate efficacy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with acquired resistance.•Relation between EGFR and vascular endothelial growth factor pathways indicates potential of combined therapy.•Sensitivity was restored in H1975 (T790M resistant) cells by gefitinib plus apatinib.•EGFR-TKI combined with apatinib achieved good efficacy in resistant NSCLC patients.